Geraint Jones smacks a ton off the Kiwi's

[Mr Kiwi]

tee hee - the media here, while full of praise for jones' knock, reported in other non-related stories things like: 'vetorri witheld his arm ball from the english batsmen during warm up games . . .' and 'cairns hasn't bowled his slower ball yet on tour . . .'

how true the NZ media's reporting is is dubious given only one organisation would have bothered to have sent reporters (plus maybe the odd piece from TVNZ's european correspondent - not a sports writer) but it would still be funny to see jones looking back at his stumps after a cairns/read replay!

[Victor Frankenstein]

come the test match, all their bowlers will be faster and more accurate, their batsmen will have higher concentration and practice games will have been just that, practice.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Tom Partis

I'm a believer in Key's abilities as a batsman, but i think that at present he is no more than a good county performer. I think that he has the ability to transfer his county form into international class, but he needs to be supported in the right way. Once a player is in the side, i believe they should be supported as a member of the England unit, regardless of whether we agree with their selection. For example, I actually agree with Botham that Hussain should stand down and leave his space available to blood a new player, but i'm not going to be hoping that he gets a golden duck in every innings from now until international retirement. whilst he is in the england team, i hope that he will do well for the england team. Key did not impress in his first international opportunity, but he was never given a chance by some members of the public.

I agree with every word,like Hick he was plonked into the England side,and was expected to perform at once,he got no support you are right,neither did Ed Smith,Hick was handled badley, he had the class to be an England player,but he was one of those who suffered under hussain as a captain.
I know people will say ,over hick well he had enough recalls,that says it all!!!!!if he kept getting recalls,he kept getting booted out of the side in the 1st place,the looking over his shoulder,will I be in the next sqaud,how can a player,do well under them conditions.

The selectors at the moment cant see any other new players,except Collingwood,and Srauss.yes god luck to Nasa.

Freddy Flintoff,has just won some England player of the year award,and look at the start he got.

[Victor Frankenstein]

bit unfair to blame nasser, key had a decent enough run in the side but didn't perform and didn't really look very likely to perform either. Perhaps if he'd followed reads example of being dropped and then working harder to get back into the side then he wouldn't now be third or fourth on the list. Instead, he went to the press and whinged and then had a poor season at domestic level.

People say not to pick on his weight, but in the modern game players need to be fit for the amount of cricket that's played, someone said before that he's lost a lot of weight in the off season this year and that's great, but too little too late to be picked this year, if his attitude away from the game is poor then why should england invest time and money in him? It's up to him to prove himself not the other way round.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

say not to pick on his weight, but in the modern game players need to be fit for the amount of cricket that's played, someone said before that he's lost a lot of weight in the off season this year and that's great, but too little too late to be picked this year, if his attitude away from the game is poor then why should england invest time and money in him? It's up to him to prove himself not the other way round.

VF

I tend to agree with this. Just because Key's smacked a couple of tons off the Kiwi's doesn't immediately put him back into contention for a Test slot again. The days of select/drop/select/drop are over. Key need's to make his case for a Test call up just like anyone else does, just because he's been selected before makes no difference at all.

England tend to be looking more to longer term prospects, offering them central contracts, taking them on tour, putting them through the Academy, watching the England A Team prospects etc etc, than plucking people from the County game and giving them Test call ups.

Somehow I don't rate Key's chances too hightly at all.

Scott

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

bit unfair to blame nasser, key had a decent enough run . Perhaps if he'd followed reads example of being dropped and then working harder to get back into the side then he wouldn't now be third or fourth on the list. Instead, he went to the press and whinged and then had a poor season at domestic level.

People say not to pick on his weight, but in the modern game players need to be fit for the amount of cricket that's played,

I am not having a pop at Nasa as a person,nor as a player,he was a poor captain,He was to authoritarian,none of the players ever looked like they where enjoying the game.
people always have a pop at players weight,I even read one post during the Windies tour,cririsising Flintosss weight.

Robert Key,Ed Smith,Cris Schofield,selectors new what they where like before they picked them,they needed to be made to fit in,You say key has played bad in county cricket,until of late,The England regime has battered the confidence of more than these players,of which Hussain played no little part.

Hick was another player mishandled,to much of a coincedance that these great players becomr duffers wheb they put on an England shirt.he was given a lot of re calles,that was part of the problem,in out ,he never knew from month to month,if he had a place,all that was wrong with Hick in my opinion,his confidence went.I agree key has to work on his fitness,if he does who knows.

Can you not see a little power struggle starting in the England camp,Vaughan and Fletcher,had the right to replace Read with Jones On tour,but not beyond,but they did,they give him an extended run,they had no right to do that,it was for the full selection board Polatics again,Strife works its way down,and behind closed doors there is some.

[Victor Frankenstein]

well we'd have to agree to disagree there, i think nass was the best captain we've had since brearley, but then i guess it's down to what type of person you want as a leader. I prefer a fiery type that shows spirit and passion for the game, i think people like atherton and vaughan are the worst type of captains as they look totally disinterested in the game and more of a "oh well, you tried your best" type thing, which is great for school teams but not what i expect from someone representing my country. I think Nass instilled a sense of passion, pride and intensity in the team that was lacking from before, and vaughan is reaping those rewards. I agree that it doesn't work for everyone and i think harmison is the kind that performs better with the softly sofltly approach.

Hick was mishandled, but that wasn't hussains era as he was given a decent run in the side with hussain but the damage was already done, they can't hang around forever waiting for him to look the part. Hick always strikes me as the easy lifer anyway, like ramprakash and similar types he just feels he has the talent so doesn't need to put in the work, and this cost him his place.

I'd agree on ed smith and schofield, neither were given a proper go in the side and in smiths case he hadn't actually done anything wrong to deserve being dropped so quickly. I don't agree with key though, he was given a long enough run to at least show some kind of potential and had attitude problems according to most reports.

Definatly see the power struggles, but that kind of thing happens in sports all the time, the bottom line is they were right to replace read and it's up to him to prove them wrong not the other way round, marsh might be annoyed about it but i'm sure once he puts his ego to one side he'll see it was the right decision (and i'm a big read fan and agree with marsh that he has potential, but he's not taken it and he only has himself to blame, but unlike key he's doing something about it and will come back a stronger player).

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

well we'd have to agree to disagree there, i think nass was the best captain we've had since brearley, but then i guess it's down to what type of person you want as a leader. I prefer a fiery type that shows spirit and passion for the game, i think people like atherton and vaughan are the worst type of captains as they look totally disinterested in the game and more of a "oh well, you tried your best.

Hick was mishandled, but that wasn't hussains era as he was given a decent run in the side with hussain but the damage was already done, they can't hang around forever waiting for him to look the part. Hick always strikes me as the easy lifer anyway

I'd agree on ed smith and schofield, neither were given a proper go in the side and in smiths case he hadn't actually done anything wrong to deserve being dropped so quickly.Definatly see the power struggles, but that kind of thing happens in sports all the time, the bottom line is they were right to replace read and it's up to him to prove them wrong not the other way round, marsh might be annoyed about it

I used to think Nas was the best captain,but he changed a little,When he was not pleased hid body language showed it,is face at time was like thunder.

Nas would have been better,with a different sort of team,I can compare him to Illingworth(better batter).I agree he had pride and passion.,in fact I think he should have been stand in captain today.
I though Atherton was to layed back,and the worst England captain,was in fact the best England player Ian Botham,he was to chummy with thr opposition as well as his own team.
Yes Mike Brearley,was the best English captain,since( Douglas Jardine.)

Hick and Ramps as you pointed out,wasted talents.

Whats the bet on marsh and Fletcher both being here in the winter,
Ernest